11/19/2017

Always have three friends that you can rely on. Never settle for a place to live - fight until you find your perfect apartment, get on the lease, and never give it up. In order of importance when you're looking for opportunities think of process first, then money, then people you are going to work with, and lastly, exposure. I think the best jobs have at least three out of the four.

New York is full of contradictions – it is the most exciting place in the world and can also make you feel lonelier than you’ve ever felt. What is it that grounds you? Be clear on that and go there when you need to.

Take class, apply to things, and talk to people! The community you generate by meeting people, taking class, and volunteering for things as you get started will be invaluable to you down the line. Work hard and have a good attitude. If just one person enjoys working with you, they'll recommend you for other opportunities, and you'll continue to build a group of supportive people around you that will open a lot of doors.

Get back to the real reason you started dancing; this may mean redefining your assumption of success and happiness. Rejection is inevitable and sometimes has little to do with talent. And as timeworn as the reminder may be, truth will always remain in remembering to never forget your worth... so don't forget it.

10/07/2017

Since 2015, the "My Dance Week" feature on Life as a Modern Dancer has asked artists throughout the United States to share what a week looks like for them - dancing, teaching, rehearsing, training, commuting....and finding down time and family time. Here are eight examples from NYC-based artists in a variety of roles as choreographers, performers, teaching artists, and arts administrators. We thank these 8 artists for sharing with us a little portrait of their lives as dancers - the juggle, the moving parts, the joys, and the importance of non-dance time with family and friends.

01/27/2017

Take class, apply to things, and talk to people! The community you generate by meeting people, taking class, and volunteering for things as you get started will be invaluable to you down the line. Work hard and have a good attitude. If just one person enjoys working with you, they'll recommend you for other opportunities, and you'll continue to build a group of supportive people around you that will open a lot of doors.

Don't come here with too many plans. Know what you love to do, and continue to ask yourself why you love to do it. Stay open and available to the universe. Trust in your artistic interests, and allow your curiosity to guide you. You'll find there are more options and people in the same boat than ever anticipated here.

12/10/2016

Here is the complete list, to date, of city guides for modern dancers. Each guide provides valuable information about service organizations, email lists, studios, performing gigs, festivals, and teaching work. Find out more about:

Though Milwaukee is a small city by comparison, it definitely maintains a vital network of invested and community-oriented artists and organizations that lead towards paths for active engagement in performing arts. The best way to get oriented is to become familiar with the three online resources: MKE Dance Theatre Network, MARN, and Wisconsin Dance Council. This way you can find out about performances, workshops, and performance opportunities. As in most cities, the best way to build a network is by attending performances and classes and starting conversations at those events. Many dance artists are deeply committed to collaboration, so making acquaintances with artists that you are interested in and letting them know your interest is the key to finding opportunities.

** UW-Milwaukee, Peck School of the Arts, Department of Dance – Many classes are available for non-majors to register for (modern, tap, ballet, African, aerial, yoga, Pilates, Alexander Technique). If you connect to instructors and gain permission by verifying appropriate skill, it is possible to participate in certain classes where appropriate with discretion of the instructor. If allowed, you can purchase class tickets at the PSOA box office in the Mainstage Theater Lobby. Phone: 414-229-1122

Due to the nature of presenting and funding structures, as well as to the population, Milwaukee dance artists find the most success in forming professional and artistic connections with choreographers and directors by training with them. This takes various forms: studying with professors of dance at UW-Milwaukee, Marquette, or Cardinal Stritch, taking company classes with artistic directors and company members, or participating in workshops held by artists in the community. Opportunities like The Field, and Danceworks’ Get It Out There, are great places to build artistic relationships and for emerging artists’ work to be introduced. Auditions are infrequent, although they do happen from time to time. The most common practice is making connections though attending performances and then participating in workshops and festival performances. The dance community in Milwaukee is very approachable, and most educators and directors are open to inquiry. Building an artistic profile through investing in shared connections in the community seems to be the most direct route to discovering performance opportunities. Additionally, making connections with dance educators and presenters within universities and high schools is a vital link to meeting artists who are active researchers and with these institutions. Milwaukee high schools and universities often feature regular dance and musical theater performance calendars and hire local artists to choreograph them. Again, check the MKE Dance Theatre Network, MARN, and Wisconsin Dance Council for up-to-date announcements.

“Fieldwork is a unique forum for artists to share developing works and exchange feedback, peer to peer. Incisive and stimulating critiques are guided by an experienced facilitator. The session culminates in an open final workshop for invited guests.* Gain new insight into your artwork * Hone your critical perception * Be motivated by a weekly deadline * Perform in an open studio showing”

There are many local dance studios and recreation centers in Milwaukee and surrounding suburbs that offer classes for youth. Danceworks, Inc. has teaching opportunities through their organization to teach dance in public schools.

Maria Gillespie is a choreographer, performer, improviser, dance and somatic educator and collaborator. Gillespie's choreography has been presented at venues nationally and internationally including The Ford Amphitheatre, The Getty Museum, the Roy and Edna Disney/Cal Arts Theater, The A.W.A.R.D Show!, UCLA, CalArts, Scripps College, Pomona College, Cal State Long Beach, and Santa Monica College as well as in New York City, Chicago, Tempe, and San Francisco. She has performed and taught at numerous universities as well as internationally in Mexico, Japan, and China. Gillespie received an M.F.A. from UCLA’s Department of World Arts & Cultures and a B.F.A. from SUNY Purchase. She joined the faculty at UWM’s Peck School of the Arts as assistant professor in 2012. www.onidance.org

Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota --- nestled by the Mississippi, Minnesota and Saint Croix Rivers --- are a hub of artistic disciplines. The performing arts thrive in the Twin Cities and offer opportunities for artists at all stages of life to hone and flourish their artistic skills. Minneapolis and Saint Paul have numerous theaters, museums, art galleries, dance companies and schools.

Visit the MN artists website to view a sampling of some of the amazing talent in the Twin Cities, http://www.mnartists.org/. Home to thousands of dance companies, independent choreographers and dance artists, the Twin Cities offer numerous opportunities within many different disciplines of dance. Modern dance, ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, musical theater, culturally specific dance, traditional dance styles, competitive dance, live action, ballroom, social, hip-hop, club and break dancing all have a strong presence in the dance scene of these two side-by-side Midwest cities.

People looking for dance opportunities in Minneapolis and Saint Paul will have no shortage of places to train and learn. Dance training is available for youth at either a private dance school, within the K-12 curriculum, at a performing arts school, and in a college or university setting with opportunities to obtain a bachelors degree in dance. Professional and avocational dancers may also find a wide assortment of options to pursue their dance passions. Here’s just a handful of options to consider when looking for dance training.

Minneapolis and Saint Paul have numerous theaters for choreographers, and dancers to take their work to the stage. It should also be pointed out that this community does a great job of taking dance to the community as well. Dancers frequently perform in local parks, in downtown public settings, along Lake Street, in outdoor festivals, you name it. The Twin Cities has embraced opportunities to bring dance to the community in traditional and in non-traditional dance venues. Here are just some of the venues currently available for dance performances. Some theaters are available as a rental hall, and some theaters offer opportunities to be produced. See each location for more information.

What kinds of professional dancers can be found in Minneapolis and Saint Paul? All kinds! There are so many choreographers and dance companies in the Twin Cities, and they all pursue their artistic vision with great passion. Professional dancers in all stages of their careers have integrated well into the community, and new dance professionals relocate to the Twin Cities every year. The dance scene continues to grow and evolve with the artists that choose to live and create work within our community. People and artists in Minnesota are resilient. We work hard all year long --- during the frigid cold of winter, the dog days of summer and during the cool, beautiful days of spring and fall. The changing seasons enhance the depth of the experience of living in Minnesota. Each season brings its own joys and challenges that help shape and inform the community, artists and choreographic process. Some choreographers enjoy the challenge of an outdoor performance in the dead of winter. Other artists enjoy celebrating the beauty and warmth of summer in an outdoor performance or festival.

There are numerous styles of dance presented on the stage and in the community in the Twin Cities. Here are just some of the dance companies you may encounter in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

Work/dance life balance....how do dancers in Minneapolis and Saint Paul make a living? Well, a lot of different ways. Many dancers have graduate degrees in dance and teach at one of the local colleges or universities. This can offer the opportunity to network, run a dance company, or dance and perform with other choreographers. Some dancers are primarily performers and might earn a living from performing with dance companies and independent artists. Some dancers are also yoga or pilates instructors. Many have their own dance schools and create great opportunities for generations of future dancers. Some professional dancers have full or part-time jobs in all kinds of fields like accounting, dentistry, culinary arts, real estate, science, IT, professional research, working in an art gallery, or for a local theater or arts agency.....you get the idea.

There are a lot of individual artists making their art on a project by project basis. Some are contract dancers for seasonal work. There are many levels of involvement in dance. There is no one way to have the life of a professional dancer. There’s more than one way to achieve any goal. If a dancer is motivated, organized, an effective communicator and ready to work hard, he/she can find a way to pursue his/her dance dreams in our community.

In addition to being a great place to live and dance, Minneapolis and Saint Paul dancers and choreographers have access to funding opportunities to help finance their artistic pursuits. Some of the local funding agencies include:

In 2008, Minnesota voters passed an amendment to: protect drinking water sources; to protect, enhance, and restore wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat; to preserve arts and cultural heritage; to support parks and trails; and to protect, enhance, and restore lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater. The Legacy Amendment increased state sales taxes starting in 2009 until 2034. The Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund supports arts, arts education and arts access to preserve Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage. It is projected that Minnesotans will invest over $1.2 billion in arts and cultural heritage fund projects and programs over the 25 year life of the tax. More information about the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund can be found here: http://www.legacy.leg.mn/about-funds.

There are also great resources available for dancers here. The Dance Community newsletter is a terrific way to both be informed of dance opportunities and to share the great dance projects you’re involved with. A must subscription for any dancer in the Twin Cities is DanceMN.org.

One way dancers are celebrated in the Twin Cities is through the Sage Awards. These annual awards recognize and celebrate Minnesota’s vibrant dance community. Sage Awards are given for these categories:

There are so many great things about the dance scene here in the Twin Cities. New choreographic voices are always joining the scene and longtime legends continue to create inspiring works. Minneapolis and Saint Paul are wonderful cities for dancers to carve out and find their artistic voices and visions. There’s an interesting and diverse landscape of artistic voices in our community. There’s opportunity here for everyone at whatever place they are in their career. It’s common to meet people who have stopped or left dance and then returned to it later. Life happens, and dance can always be there for a person when she/he wants it and needs it.

08/01/2016

If you are set on the big apple, give yourself two years to get situated --- it really takes a little longer there. See everything at BAM. Take the workshops from the people you want to work with in addition to auditioning --- but if you haven’t been “picked” yet get in the studio and make stuff or dance for a budding choreographer, as that’s the easiest way to meet people. Know that being easy to work with --- being mature, responsible and reasonable --- is very, very valuable and as important as talent/training. The current system is hard on women who have to compete against much larger numbers for fewer positions. Know that; be tough. Let it motivate you to work harder, and keep fighting for more support for female choreographers in the field.

05/07/2016

Resting along an international border, Detroit has been in constant motion. The Motor City’s claim to fame as the epicenter of the auto industry and being a major birthplace of talent (hint, hint: MoTown and Techno), Detroit is now on the move more than ever. With 7.5 million residents, Metro Detroit is the tenth largest metropolitan area in the United States. Dance artists are exported annually from the city. The homegrown talent and spirit of dance has a long history and lineage in the city. In general, the city gets a bad rep. Economically, politically, and socially the city has had ebbs and flows. What we have seen in the past decade is consistent major financial investments in areas such as Midtown and Downtown - major centers for artists to make work.

This city and the region surrounding it is literally like no other, in that support for dance is growing. However, there are no structures that dance can neatly fall into. This type of space is perfect for the entrepreneurial-minded dance artist who likes working collaboratively and digging into the work. The city’s DIY ethos is designed for those who like to build, create, and transform spaces. This article casts a lens on opportunities for contemporary, modern, and postmodern dance artists who want to move to the city and includes resources of where to find space, opportunities to work, and ways to connect with others.

Information and Advocacy

The following resources are a great way to jump into learning about the Detroit dance scene.

A project for dance professionals and those interested in dance to SEE, TAKE, and MOVE with Detroit through an online calendar, monthly newsletter, annual dance magazine, and quarterly meet ups. Powered by ARTLAB J in partnership with Marcus White/White Werx.

The following organizations and training centers support professional artists. These programs exist outside of pre-professional training centers, public or charter dance programs, private commercial dance studios or University dance programs.

The following are colleges or universities with dance minors, undergraduate degrees, or graduate dance programs:

Southeast Michigan

Eastern Michigan University

Henry Ford Community College

Marygrove College

Oakland University

University of Michigan

University of Michigan – Flint

Wayne State University

Rehearsal Spaces

If there is one thing Detroit has, it is space. At its height, the population of Detroit proper was over 1.8 million. According to the 2010 census, that number is now a little above 700,000. There are many reasons for this population shift including economic, political, and social changes in the city. This creates a unique experience and infrastructure where artists have more affordable access to our most precious resource: SPACE. Currently, there are a few spaces that are dedicated and prepared to support modern dance bodies. New spaces are constantly being created all of the time. In addition to the spaces listed below, private dance and yoga studios often rent space during off-peak hours.

The following Metro Detroit dance organizations draw on modern, contemporary, or postmodern movement in their work primarily. Detroit, much like cities across the country, is a cradle of independent choreographers and fledgling dance entities that largely comprise the growing dance community. These artists and organizations are an important aspect of the community. This list highlights some of the companies with consistent dance programming, concerts, or touring schedules.

The following venues present, produce, or rent space to touring and/or local artists. Typically medium and large venues support presentations of touring dance companies while small venues focus on local and regional dance programming and presentations. Not all venues have a regular roster of dance programming.

Teaching opportunities exist in a variety of ways in Metro Detroit. Most teaching jobs are in private commercial studios and within entities such as dance companies. There are a few teaching opportunities in Universities and public schools but can be difficult to secure and maintain. Often independent choreographers or dancers rent their own space and provide weekly class as a short series or one time workshop. Learn more about dance teaching opportunites at the Metro Detroit Dance Teacher Summit www.theofficialmrw.com/mddts.

Final thoughts

Detroit is exploding with new schools of dance, professional companies, festivals and opportunities for performers and audience members to enjoy dance together. Resilience and audacity make up the Detroit spirit, and its dance artists help shape the city as the city enters a new phase of development. The burgeoning dance scene includes organizations and individual artists that create alternative spaces and possibilities for the community to find information, make connections, and build a stronger network for dance in the city.

About the Authors

Marcus White is an American movement maker and cultural WERKer. He is a dance artist, scholar, entrepreneur and has served as a major force in Detroit’s dance scene as the Creative Director of Marcus White/White Werx (MWWW). MWWW is a performance production company that serves as a bridge to center professional performance through the creation of new multidisciplinary dance for stage/screen and through innovative performance-centered programming. His work has been described as “ingenious” and “vulnerable” by the Chicago Tribune and according to Dance Panorama is “bold and it is clear he is not afraid to push the audience out of its comfort zone to encourage contemplation.” White earned an MFA from the University of Michigan. www.theofficialmrw.com/welcome

Joori Jung is the Founder of ARTLAB J. Originally from Seoul, Korea, she received her B.A (2006) and M.A in dance from Kyung Hee University in 2008. She toured internationally with the Seoul Dance Theatre from 2004-2007, and she was a Finalist at the 2007 Seoul International Dance Competition and won 3rd prize in performance at the 2007 Korea National Dance Competition. She danced with various dance companies in Korea before moving to New York in 2009. She then joined Time Lapse Dance and Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre and began her own choreographic work in New York. In 2012, she moved to Detroit to achieve her goal to expand contemporary dance as well as the arts community in Detroit and decided to establish ARTLAB J in 2012.

04/19/2016

Over the past 6 months, numerous NYC-based artists have shared about their career paths on the blog. Today we read some advice from Rashaun Mitchell, Lia Bonfilio, and Paloma McGregor. Click on any name below to read an artist's full profile.

Train as much as you can in as many ways as you can. Read everything. See everything. Think about who you want to work with; get to know their work. Try to develop other skills besides dancing. Save up a lot of money!

Obstacles abound! But so do opportunities. I say go for it. It's a wonderful place to work hard and to test your edges. It is not a place that encourages a healthy work to life balance, so as long as you are good at taking care of yourself and setting boundaries, there is a rich community here to add to and draw from. Stay curious and patient, and you can make something meaningful here.

Give it more than a year. If you want to understand what NYC has to offer you, give it at least three; if you want to get to show what you have to offer New York, give it 10.

If you have your sights set on a particular company, find out how to dance with choreographers who come from/work with that company, so you build some specific, related skills and networks.

This is not such a big city. And it’s a tiny field. Do your best work in all you do – from waiting tables to performing at The Joyce. You never know when your actions will work for or against you, so make being your best self your practice – in the studio and out. I’ve experienced young artists diminish their possibilities with short-sighted actions that burned strong advocates, including myself; such actions often have long range negative consequences on their trajectory, sometimes without them even realizing what they’ve done and how it cost them opportunities.

Don’t spend all your money on where you live. My first room in New York didn’t have any natural light and barely fit the double bed, but I never worried about making enough for rent, even when I quit all my day jobs during my first year to focus on just dancing. Be safe, but don’t be fancy.

New York is a good place to grow, gain perspective and hone your voice. There is an audience for everything in New York, which you can’t say about most places, which allows you a freedom to be authentic. But New York is not the only place to be an artist, and increasingly is pricing us out; so if it’s not for you that’s OK.

04/15/2016

The unofficial, yet highly used, slogan of this city is, “Keep it Durty, Durham.” This isn’t to say that Durham is literally a dirty place. In fact, it’s quite the opposite, as Durham has grown into a destination for foodies, businesses, and art connoisseurs of all genres. Durty Durham refers to keeping our town gritty, rough, and raw. It pays homage to the city’s spirit as being independent and diverse. And this is how Durham’s dance scene is defined.

Durham has been a hub for modern dance during the summer months for over 35 years, as dancers from all over the world come to participate in the American Dance Festival. Yet, the year-round local dance community has only recently begun to flourish within the past 10 years. As Durham’s reputation has grown into one of artistic cultivation and community support, more and more dancers have relocated, or returned, to the area to continue to develop their professional careers. We continue to grow into a community with promise for artistic excellence and experimentation.

The Durham Arts Council is our local arts organization that also houses a beautiful for-rent theater. The North Carolina Arts Council is also a helpful resource for local dancers and is located just down the road in our state capital of Raleigh. Beyond that, Durham has several organizations to join that provide up-to-date information on what’s happening in the NC dance community.

Samuel H Scripps ADF Studios: The American Dance Festival’s year-round studio offers professional level classes at professional dancer rates. Classes are offered in all levels of modern technique, release technique, ballet for modern dancers, Pilates, and monthly contact improvisation jams. They offer a wide range of workshops and master classes from world-renowned teaching faculty who also teach for the American Dance Festival Summer School.

Arts Together: Located in Raleigh, Arts Together is a community school of arts for all ages and levels. They offer all levels of modern dance technique classes and ballet. Pre-registration is required for each session; drop-ins are welcome for summer session only.

Ballet School of Chapel Hill: For over thirty years, the Ballet School has offered high quality classes for children, teens, and adults. They offer several classes for the adult professional and/or enthusiast including ballet, modern, and tap.

Ninth Street Dance: If you want to dabble in a dance form you may have never tried before, or if you are looking to continue your training in a relaxed and fun environment, look no further. Ninth Street Dance offers a plethora of classes from ballet and modern technique, to Broadway, swing, and 90’s cardio funk. Pre-registration is required for each session.

Where to rehearse:

While there are a few studios available to rent for rehearsals, they can be pricey. The Samuel H. Scripps ADF Studios are a great option if you have a nonprofit status, as you are able to rehearse for free during the weekdays between 9:30am-3:30pm. Ninth Street Dance is the most affordable option for rehearsal space if you do not have a nonprofit status.

Choreographers tend to hire dancers they have worked with before or those they meet in their classes/workshops. Some companies and presenting organizations hold performer auditions, typically posted on the DIDA DL and/or Triangle Dance Project’s websites. Because character and personality play such a major role in the creative process, the best bet is to get in class with the choreographers you want to work with and let them know you would like to be considered for an upcoming project.

In 2014, four members of the Durham dance community formed DIDA, The Durham Independent Dance Artists. This organization curates a season of emerging independent artists to help raise the awareness to the general public of the dance happenings taking place throughout Durham.

PROMPTS:A multi-disciplinary artist series run by COMPANY, Prompts is an opportunity for any artist to present a work in progress to an audience and is treated as a supportive, collaborative, and safe environment for all art forms and experimentations. Participation is first come, first serve and open to the public for free.

Tobacco Road Dance Productions: This is a unique presenting opportunity for choreographers to create a new work with mentorship through various feedback showings. Each artist is selected through a rotating adjudication process, and then presented in the Annual Concert each spring.

EMERGENCE: This is an annual choreography showcase presented by the Triangle Dance Project that celebrates local professional choreographers. Submissions are accepted through late spring with the showcase open to the public each fall.

Festivals:

American Dance Festival: Known throughout the world as one of the biggest dance festivals, ADF gathers hundreds of dancers from around the world to Durham every summer for 2 months. During that time, ADF presents innovative and relevant performances of contemporary dance from around the world open to the general public. They also offer community classes led by ADF faculty twice a week throughout the summer.

North Carolina Dance Festival, presented by The Dance Project. This Festival has numerous events throughout the year, with a major highlight of a statewide tour of three cities for selected choreographers.

SPARKcon: Raleigh’s annual “Festival of Creativity.” This is an interdisciplinary festival held every September in Raleigh, including presentations/showcases from visual artists, dancers, musicians, filmmakers, computer engineers, and circus artists, to name a few.

Venues and Presenting Organizations:

Venues:

One of the defining features of Durham dance artists is the creative use of venue space. More often than not, local choreographers will re-purpose found spaces for their presentations including old tobacco warehouses, bars, empty warehouses, and old fruit stands. Other popular venue sites are:

Durham has several opportunities for teaching dance. There are dance studios, public schools that offer dance education, private schools, university adjunct work, and community centers that offer dance classes. Check out the Triangle/Triad Dance Educators Facebook page or contact the site directly for inquiries.

Local Colleges and Universities:

North Carolina is home to nine universities who have a dance major or minor. Each program offers a unique and academically varied spin on what they have to offer students. These include:

Duke University

East Carolina University

Elon University

Meredith College

NC State University (minor)

Salem College

UNC Charlotte

UNC Greensboro

UNC School of the Arts

Final thoughts:

Since 2010, Durham’s dance community has grown into a diverse, eclectic, and experimental aesthetic. While there is a lack of midsize venues appropriate for dance, local artists have been choosing to build their own theaters in old warehouse spaces across the city. And with the opening of the Samuel H. Scripps ADF Studios, professionals also have a space for technical development. As the motto suggests, Durham dance “Keeps it Durty.”

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Renay Aumiller is the Founder and Artistic Director of RAD | Renay Aumiller Dances, a project-based dance company located in Durham, North Carolina. She holds an MFA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is a Franklin Method® Educator, and an Assistant Professor of Dance at Elon University. renayaumillerdances.com